Plug-switch



(No Model.)

W. R. COLE. PLUG SWITCH.

No. 591,126. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM R. COLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PLUG-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,126, dated October 5, 189'?.

Application filed March 11, 1897. Serial No. 626,973. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

It is the object of my invention to produce a simple form of plug-switch which is especially adapted for use in multiple switchboards, where it is of the utmost importance to secure the greatest economy of'space.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a switchboard to which my invention is applied, together with one of the plugs. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section thereof, showing one of the sockets and the plug. Fig. 3 shows the sheet-metal blanks from which the sockets are formed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of saidsockets when formed, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View ofsaid sockets secured in the insulator-plates.

My switch comprises two plates A A", of insulating material, arranged parallel to each other, each being provided with a series of corresponding registering apertures B B.

C C are metallic sockets secured in the apertures B B, which are preferably formed as follows: Blanks are first cut out of sheet metal and shaped as shown in Figf of the drawings, each having a number of arms a projecting from one side and the projections or ears b from the opposite side. Each blank is also provided with the long arm c, which, on the blank C', forms an extension of one of the ears and in the blank C an extension of one of the arms a. The blanks are next rolled up into cylindrical form, the arms Ct being given a slight inward curve and the ears l) being bent outwardly at right angles. The sockets are then placed in the apertures B B with the arms a of the socket C extending forward and those of the socket O extending rearward. The ears extend over the edges of the aperture and are clamped between the plates A A', said ears being turned so as to be out of contact with each other and serving to hold the socket in lixed position and out of contact.

The arm c of the contact C passes through an aperture B42 in the plate A and is connected with one of the electric conductors, while the arm c on the contact C is connected with the other conductor.

D is the plug, comprising the following parts: d is the end contact, which has a rounded point and a rearwardly-extending shank d', of reduced size, threaded at its end. Upon the shank is sleeved the insulating-collars e and f, between which is placed the hollow contact g, having a bearing on the two collars, holding it out of contact with the shank.

The contact g is provided with a shoulder h, in rear of which is the threaded shank t'.

7' are nuts engaging with the threaded portion of the shank CZ and serving to clamp the parts together.

lo is a flexible cord containing the two electric conductors, which are connected, respectively, to the shanks d and t', preferably by means of the sheet-metal fingers Z and m, clamped in Contact with said Shanks and extending rearwardly. n is a tubular handle of insulating material, screwed upon the shank t'.

A plug-switch thus formed is not only inexpensive to construct, but is also very compact, as it is possible to place a very large number of the apertures B B with their sockets C C in a very small space, and as the arms c all extend to the rear of the board the connections are easily made.

The spring-arms a insure a good contact with the two contacts of the plug, while the ears b hold the sockets in position without possibility of touching each other.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a plug-switch the combination of two parallel insulator-plates apertured in line with each other, a springsocket contact placed in each aperture and ears on said sockets extending between and clamped by said plates serving to hold said sockets in position out of contact with each other.

2. In a plug-switch, a spring-socket contact comprising a cylindrical body formed from a sheet-metal blank and having the inwardly-curved spring-arms a projecting lon- Ioo i gitudinally from one end and the outwardlybent ears b at the other end for the purpose described.

3. In a plug-switch the combination with two parallel insulator-plates apertured in line with each other of spring-socket Contacts plaeed in said apertures, provided with the ears D extending between and clamped by said plates, serving to hold the sockets in position and out of eontaet with eaeh other, and the inwardly-curved spring-arms a extending oppositely from said sockets.

4. In a plugswiteh, the combination with the two parallel insulator-plates A A having' the apertures I3 I3' in line with eaeh other, and the apertures B2 in the plate A' of the spring-soeket contacts C C plaeed respeetively in the apertures B B', each being' provided with the ears Y) clamped between the plates, and the oppositely extending' inwardly-curved arms a, and the arm c on the socket C extending through the aperture l?.

5. In a plug-switch, a plug comprising the end Contact d having a rearwardly-extending shank d of redueed size, threaded at its end, the insulating-Collars e f sleeved upon. said shank, the hollow Contact f/ between having the shoulder h and threaded shank 11, the nut j Yfor clamping the parts together, the tubular handle n seeured to the shank i and the Ilexible oord containing` the eleetrie eonduetors Connected respectively to the shanhs d and i.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM R. CO'ILIC.

lVitnesses:

M. B. ODoennn'rr, OTTO F. Biin'rnnn. 

